Denver — The ADA House of Delegates voted Oct. 24 at its meeting to transform one of its councils into a committee that its members anticipate will make the group more agile in requesting and making beneficial changes to annual meetings.

Resolution 38H-2016 will "sunset" the Council on ADA Sessions and allow the Board of Trustees to establish it as an advisory committee that is directly accountable to the Board throughout the year. Before the change, the group could only request and effect alterations to the annual meeting with the approval of the House of Delegates once a year.

"Our job is to create the greatest meeting on Earth," said Dr. David Fulton Jr., chair of the new advisory committee, "Now, we'll be much more nimble."

Dr. Fulton said the transformation is significant because the idea for the change came from the council itself. "We feel that we can do better," he said. "We want to do what will make for a better meeting."

Dr. Fulton chaired a task force that over the last 18 months explored how to make the council more communicative with the Board. "There was a disengagement between the Board of Trustees and the council," he said. "Everything had to go through the House of Delegates. Sometimes, decisions need to be made in the spur of the moment."

"We have a better voice," Dr. Fulton continued, speaking of the change. "We can directly speak to the trustees and hear from them."

Dr. Fulton acknowledged that it might not be immediately apparent how the change affects the average dentist, but stressed that it was important. "The ADA annual meeting is a conduit to each and every member," he said. "The average dentist wants to attend an excellent meeting where they are entertained and educated."